HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-1985 City Council Minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME; Tuesday, August 13, 1985 - 7:30 p.m.
PLACE: Conmunity Center Meeting Room, 19655 Allendale Avenue
TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting, Committee of the Whole
Adjourned Regular Meeting
Councilmembers Hlava, Moyles and Mayor Clevenger were present at 7:29 p.m.;
Co~ncilmomber Callon was present at 7:37 p.m. Conncilmember Fanelli was absent.
1. City Seals on Entrance Signs
Acting City Manager explained the bill for the city seals, noting that the Rotary
Club had paid for the brass letters and donated the rocks and labor for the project.
In response to Mayor Clevenger, he said he did not know how much the Rotary Club had
actually spent. Councilmembers discussed whether to pay all, none or a part of the
costs and reached consensus to pay all.
HLAVA/MOYLES MOVED TO PROVIDE $2996.00 TO PAY FOR SEALS ON ENTRANCE SIGNS DONA'f~J BY
ROTARY CLUB. Passed 3-0.
Councilmember Callon arrived before commencement of the next item.
2. Consideration of TextAmendments to theZoningOrdinanceamendingcertainZo~ing
Regulations pertaining to Uses, Site Coverage, Accessory Structures, Distance
between Structures and Setbacks in the R-l, HCRDandNURZoning Districts
(first reading)
City Attorney explained proposed amendments and answered Councilmembers' questions
on the ordinance. Councilmember Callon felt it acceptable if items such as swimming
pool installations were approved by staff as long as the neighbors were notified so
that they could express objections. Councilmember Hlava felt such items clogged the
Planning Commission agenda and could appropriately be left to staff. Councilmembers
discussed means of notifying neighbors, and City Attorney suggested requiring the
applicant to provide staff with a list of people on abutting properties so that
contiguous neighbors could be notified. It was agreed that items listed in
subparagraphs (2) and (3) of Section 3.7-1(a) would require such notification.
there was consensus to delete subparagraph (5) of that section.
Margaret Sherill asked whether the ordinance applied to R-l-10 lots, and Mayor
Clevenger replied that it did.
Councilmembers discussed lots which have a choice of which yard is to be considered
the rear yard and which the side yard; City Attorney riDted that there have been
cases where staff has made that determination at the time of map approval.
Councilmember Hlava felt it should also be addressed in the Subdivision Ordinance.
The City Attorney was directed to deliberate further on this issue, including
how to distinguish between procedures for new and existing maps.
Councilmembers noted that the impervious coverage proposed in Section 3 would
liberalize the present ordinance excessively. Acting City Manager explained that
the percentages were reached as a result of testimony from industry representatives
who stated that if coverage allowances were lower residents would tend to circumvent
the regulations by installing additional items after inspection. As to impervious
coverage, there was consensus to allow 457° coverage plus 5% for paths and decks in
R-i-20,000 areas and 35% coverage plus 57° for paths and decks in R-I-40,000 areas.
Carol Machol objected to the fact that homes on smaller lots would have a larger
percentage of impervious coverage. Councilmember Callon pointed out that that
situation was almost inevitable, since people on small lots could not be expected to
build the impossibly tiny houses that would result from building houses with the
house/lot proportions of those on very large lots.
City Attorney explained that the prohibition againstthree-story structures would
not apply to structures wbich were "stepped down," as was an 0ddfellows structure
about which Councilmembers had expressed concern.
She itemwas continued to the regular Council meeting of August 21.
2-8/13/85
3. Schedule for Discussion of Disposition of Property at Cox/Saratoga-St~myvale
Item referred to Finance Committee for 'recommendations on financial a'spects such as
whether to sell or lease the property.
4. Review of Priorities established in ,June 1984 and January 1985
· Councilmembers discussed priorities and decided that progress had been or was being
made on all items of concern. Consensus to discuss further with new City Manager.
5. Purchase of StL~ff Vehicle
Acting City Manager explained that the 'new City Manager would need a car upon his
arrival, which had been agreed upon in his contract, and buying a used mid-size
four-door car such as a Chevrolet Celebrity was the ~ennmmendation. Councilmember
Callon asked about maintenance costs of used 'vehicles, and Acting City Manager
stated that the Cjty's experience had been excellent 'with such cars. In answer to
Councilmember Moyles, he stated that the car would be in ]ieu of a car allowance.
There was consensus to authorize staff to proceed with the acquisitfon of the
vehicle.
6. New Business
Acting City Manager distributed report on status of Volunteer Coordinator, who was
to be hired as a 3/5 time employee.
He then reported on work proceeding on Chester Avenue and Ten Acres Road, which had'
run into problems because of moist sub-soil and would require additional funds. In
answer to Councilmember Moyles, he stated that the source of the moisture was
excessive watering of landscaping around homes in the area. He intended to reqU~est
the homeowners to manager their watering more efficiently.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p~m.to a closed session on personnel to be held
inmediately after the Committee of the Whole.
Co~nittee of the Whole
1. Request from John Gatto concerning Cypress Properties
2. Review of Personnel Manual
3. Route 85 Report
4. Discussion of Council Agendas for Balance of 1985
Respectfully submitted,
Grace E. Cory
Deputy City Clerk